Reset elevator/threaded shaft dispensing package for stick form product and a refill cartridge therefor

Abstract

An elevator/threaded shaft dispensing package for a solid stick-form product. The package has a refill cartridge designed to telescope into a reusable base. The base is tubular and has a threaded shaft axially oriented within it through a central aperture at its bottom where the shaft is connected to a hand wheel. The cartridge holds the product in a tubular body which preferably has a non-circular cross-section. A push plate is disposed in the bottom of the cartridge and the top of the cartridge preferably has a downwardly extending annular collar on its exterior. The package has a telescoping elevator system disposed within it which includes a platform which abuts against the push plate and an internally threaded neck below the platform. The internally threaded neck receives the threaded shaft in threaded telescoping relation. When the hand wheel is turned in a predetermined direction the elevator system advances towards the top, pushing the product in the cartridge up and out of the package so the consumer can have access. The package is able to reset the elevator to its lowermost position when it is in its uppermost position without manually rotating the hand wheels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An elevator/threaded shaft stick dispensing package for a solid stick-form product, said package having a cartridge designed to telescope into a base, said package comprising: (a) said base, comprising a tubular body having an open top and a closed bottom having a central aperture disposed therein, said base having a threaded shaft axially oriented within its body and rotatably mounted on its bottom end through said central aperture wherein said shaft is connected to a hand wheel adjacent said bottom on the exterior of said body;   (b) said cartridge, comprising a tubular body for holding a solid stick-form product, said body having an open top and an open bottom, said bottom having a push plate disposed therein adjacent its bottom, said cartridge slidingly telescopes into said open top of said base;   (c) a telescoping elevator system disposed within said base, said elevator system comprising an internally threaded neck, adapted to receive said threaded shaft in threaded telescoping relation, and a platform above said neck designed to abut against said push plate of said cartridge, whereby when said hand wheel is turned in a predetermined direction said shaft rotates and advances said platform upwardly which advances said push plate upwardly and pushes said stick product out through said open top of said package; and   (d) a means for resetting said elevator system to its lowermost position when it is in its uppermost position without manually rotating said hand wheel.   
     
     
       2. The package of claim 1 wherein said cartridge includes a downwardly extending annular collar adjacent its tip, said collar designed to skirt over said top of said base. 
     
     
       3. The package of claim 1 further including a means to secure said cartridge within said base. 
     
     
       4. The package of claim 2 further including a means to secure said cartridge within said base wherein said collar further includes at least one inwardly extending bead and said base includes at least one outwardly extending bead adjacent its top end, said beads being designed to snap fit over one another so as to secure said cartridge within said base. 
     
     
       5. The package of claim 1 wherein said push plate has a concave shape extending towards the top of said body of said cartridge, said push plate further including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough so as to adhere said stick-form product to said push plate. 
     
     
       6. The package of claim 1 wherein said base is made from polyethylene. 
     
     
       7. The package of claim 1 further including a cap to seal said top of said package when not in use. 
     
     
       8. The package of claim 1 wherein said package has a non-circular cross-section when taken perpendicular to said axially oriented shaft. 
     
     
       9. The package of claim 8 wherein said cross-section is oval. 
     
     
       10. The package of claim 1 further including a means to retract said product back into said cartridge. 
     
     
       11. The package of claim 1 wherein said internally threaded neck of said elevator system is split into at least two internally threaded sections adjacent its lower end, said means for resetting said elevator system thereby comprising a means for moving said sections outwardly from said shaft when said elevator system is in its uppermost position, thereby disengaging the threaded engagement between said neck and said shaft, said elevator system then being free to move down towards its lowermost position, said neck thereafter returning to threaded engagement with said shaft when said elevator system reaches its lowermost position. 
     
     
       12. The package of claim 11 wherein said neck is split into two internally threaded halves and said means for resetting said elevator system comprises: (a) a pin extending through said platform and down towards said neck, said pin having an up position and a down position; and   (b) a lever hingedly connected between its two ends to one of said halves of said neck by a hinge, one end of said lever abutting against said other half of said neck and the other end of said lever abutting against said pin, whereby when said cartridge is placed in said base it pushes said pin into its down position, thereby rotating said lever about said hinge and biasing said halves of said neck outwardly from said shaft disengaging said neck from said shaft, said elevator system now being free to move to its lowermost position, when said elevator system returns to its lowermost position said pin returns to its up position re-engaging said neck with said threads.   
     
     
       13. The package of claim 11 wherein said means for resetting said elevator system comprises a tubular sleeve concentrically fitting over said neck so that said neck is threadably engaged with said shaft, whereby when said elevator system is in its uppermost position and said cartridge is removed, said package has a means for moving said sleeve away from neck so as to disengage said neck from said shaft so that said elevator system can freely move to its lowermost position, when said elevator system reaches its lowermost position said sleeve is moved back over said neck so as to threadably re-engage said neck with said shaft. 
     
     
       14. An elevator/threaded shaft stick dispensing package for a solid stick-from product, said package having a cartridge designed to telescope into a base, said package comprising: (a) said base comprising a tubular body having an open top and a closed bottom having a central aperture disposed therein, said base having a threaded shaft axially oriented within its body and rotatably mounted on its bottom end through said central aperture wherein said shaft is connected to a hand wheel adjacent said bottom on the exterior of said body;   (b) said cartridge comprising a tubular body for holding a solid stick-form product, said body having an open top and an open bottom, said cartridge having a push plate disposed therein adjacent its bottom, said push plate having a concave shape extending towards the top of said body of said cartridge, said push plate further including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough so as to adhere said stick-form product to said push plate, said cartridge slidingly telescopes into said open top of said base;   (c) a telescoping elevator system disposed within said base, said elevator system comprising an internally threaded neck split into two internally threaded halves adjacent its bottom, said neck adapted to receive said threaded shaft in threaded telescoping relation, said elevator system further including a platform above said neck designed to abut against said push plate of said cartridge, whereby when said hand wheel is turned in a predetermined direction said shaft rotates and advances said platform and said push plate thereby pushing said stick product out through said open top of said package; and   (d) a means for resetting said elevator system to its lowermost position when it is in its uppermost position without manually rotating said hand wheel, said means comprising: (i) a pin extending through said platform and down towards said neck, said pin having an up position and a down position; and   (ii) a lever hingedly connected between its two ends to one of said halves of said neck by a hinge, one end of said lever abutting against said other half of said neck and the other end of said lever abutting against said pin, whereby when said cartridge is placed in said base it pushes said pin into its down position, thereby rotating said lever about said hinge and biasing said halves of said neck outwardly from said shaft disengaging said neck from said shaft, said elevator now being free to move to its lowermost position, when said elevator returns to its lowermost position said pin returns to its up position re-engaging said neck with said shaft.